So often it is stated that faith only comes by hearing and some say if you do not listen to the gospel preached in audible words, you cannot attain faith at all. I often wondered whether that statement was true. Do we know how many people, actually, were able to read and write at the time when the gospel would be preached for the first time? And in the centuries afterwards?

If there were not as many, the only means to reach them with the word of God was through preaching. Considering those few letters in the NT that were addressed to a rather limited circle of recipients, we might assume that the usual way to attain faith when people were not as well-educated as they are today was most probably through hearing the gospel. But nowadays an incredible amount of people not only can read, however, they have access to any kind of writing through the internet.

As for me, I can say that God would use different means to give me faith in Him. Whether it was the written word, if He made a painting come alive, or if He spoke directly to my heart, in all cases I could immediately trust Him without the slightest doubt afterwards and without having heard ONE spoken word. Regarding the “written word” God dared to not only point me to the Bible or to Christian books, no, even non-Christian religious writings or psychological articles strengthened my faith in Him. Therefore I think that the Bible verse below should not be translated one-dimensionally. We read,

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17 KJV)

Of course, Romans 10:17 might mainly refer to coming to faith in Christ as our Savior at all. BUT – does that mean that we already have faith in every area of life as soon as we believe that Jesus saved us from our sins in order to give us eternal life? Barnes’ Notes on the Bible offer the following explanation which I found rather helpful as to my own experiences with God. These notes say,

By hearing – Our translation has varied the expression here, which is the same in two places in the Greek: “Isaiah said, Who hath believed our report τῇ ἀκοῇ tē akoē? So then, you must admit that faith comes by that report ἐξ ἀκοῆς ex akoēs, and therefore this report or message is necessary.” When it is said that faith cometh by hearing, it is not meant that all who hear actually believe, for that is not true; but that faith does not exist unless there is a message, or report, to be heard or believed. It cannot come otherwise than by such a message; in other words, unless there is something made known to be believed. And this shows us at once the importance of the message, and the fact that people are converted by the instrumentality of truth, and of truth only.

Aha! “A message, or report, to be heard or believed.”We do not necessarily need to hear a message or a report with our own ears, today we can read them as well. We may not forget, either, that not everyone who hears the gospel can indeed believe it because his ears might be stuffed as it is confirmed by different Scriptures. In Rome the apostle Paul even caused division between the Jews so that they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” (Acts 28:25-28 ESV)

Oh! 🙄 Isn’t it God Himself who makes us “listen”? Isn’t it listening with our heart which is crucial, wouldn’t you say? Imagine if the one-dimensional, literal meaning of hearing the gospel being preached audibly was true, all people who were born deaf would never be able to come to believe in Christ. And what about those who cannot speak because they were born dumb? We also read,

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Rom 10:10 ESV)

Who can confess with his mouth when he is dumb? Have we ever considered these Scriptures to have a spiritual meaning as well for they might address our spiritual senses first? Another question: Can we talk with God without opening our mouths? I tell you I can since I rarely talk loudly with Him. Only when I am mad at God, I usually complain loudly. 😉

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25 thoughts on “Faith Comes by Hearing – Only?”

Wow. Loved this, Susanne! I rarely speak audibly with him as well. But rather a constant, or as the Scriptures say, unceasing, conversation.

I particularly liked this: “When it is said that faith cometh by hearing, it is not meant that all who hear actually believe, for that is not true; but that faith does not exist unless there is a message, or report, to be heard or believed.” Thank you so much for sharing!

Great post! There are many ways God communicates with us, music, paintings, a beautiful sunset. He speaks to us all in a language tailor made just for us, in a way we can understand, and often He speaks in several different ways to make sure we get it right. God once used a donkey to speak and a disembodied hand writing on a wall.

Somebody once said scripture was amazing because it’s the only piece of literature where the Author shows up to read it you. That is true too, but without that soft heart that allows Him to speak to you, those words can be nothing more then flat, two dimensional images on a piece of paper. To really ” hear” you need that Living Water flowing through you 😉

Evangelicals have made much of this verse about faith coming by hearing. It is interesting to me that God is not limited to that alone to reach whom He will. Consider this verse again.

‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Both hearing and seeing are mentioned here as used by God to bring people to turn and be healed. Yes, God’s arm is not short when He reaches out to us and He can use anything. Very often the Bible is used by Him to confirm what He has already been saying in our hearts with our spiritual ears. He gives us the faith OF Jesus Christ and it is this that changes us.

I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye sees you. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:5-6 KJ2000)

It seems that SEEING God not hearing that brought Job to repentance. Faith does not only come by hearing, but seeing too. Susanne, I know that He has touched you often through spiritual sight.

Michael, I am glad you brought up that example of Job who heard AND saw God. Very enlightening as for the whole matter of how to achieve true faith!

Indeed, I also found in the Bible more often a confirmation of what I had already believed in my heart before than I could say that the Bible were a sort of foundation of my faith. The foundation is Christ, another “foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 3:11 KJV)

I wholeheartedly agree that we need “the faith OF Jesus Christ” which is different from a mere Bible believing faith without a living relationship with our Creator.

Yes, Susanne! it is interesting how many “good things” that church leaders want to make the foundation of their churches and what they believe… things like preaching, apostles and prophets, speaking in tongues, water baptism, Bible knowledge, etc. The worst enemy of what is Perfect is not the bad, but the good! Paul makes it clear that no other foundation can be laid in our lives other than Jesus Christ and that we are to be careful what we build on that Foundation. In HIM we live and move and have our being, not in “church.”

I believe that most church leaders are not aware of what they do by clinging to mainly visible and tangible things and by maintaining the importance of persons and ministries. They do not know it better – yet.

Your posts and Mikes are very enriching–I believe that the only reason I was birthed into Gods life is because He gave me the ability to believe–I not only heard the message about Christ but I saw Him on the cross by a mental vision on the day I got saved and to boot God used a Jehova witness book to do it–talk about Gods strange ways of working!

I have wondered about this, as well. Thank you for shedding light on the topic, Susanne.

As you say, God can use all things to His purposes. Aside from sermons, I have been moved by music on the radio, by art, by nature, and Scripture at home alone, as God spoke to my heart.

I am reminded of the many descriptions God uses in Scripture to convey a sense of who He is. These include living water, the bread of life, the light of the world, the Rock, the Lamb of God, the true vine, the rose of Sharon, the anchor, and the chief cornerstone. They speak to all the senses, senses God Himself gave to us.

I should add that I regularly gain insight from the thoughts other Christians like yourself express online. We are told that “Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17). This interaction is possible online, but often missing from our churches today.

Given the extent to which certain “Christian” ministers at times twist Scripture (and the tools like personality, sarcasm, rancor, etc. public speakers may employe), I find thoughtful consideration and study essential.

Yes, music on the radio has touched me too, very often, and nature, art – all you mentioned in your comment.

I have never thought about these descriptions of God in Scripture in the context of our senses before, but YES, you are so right. Great thought! ⭐ It seems God gave us a hint as to how sensual it is to experience Him on a spiritual level since God is Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, the freedom to enjoy God with our spiritual senses… Ha! Your words inspired me… Thanks a bunch for doing so! 🙂

A good post, thank you. If the only way to hear the Lord is the preached word, and; therefore, the only way to faith, we are in a sad situation. The Lord speaks. Perhaps we are limited in hearing due to our own ignorance, heart condition, etc. But I don’t believe that God is limited in how He can speak. Romans 1: 16-32 seems to take the limitations off of God.

I wholeheartedly agree with you that God is not limited in how He can communicate with us. Alas, as long as I am distracted and restless, I know that I cannot hear Him clearly. But I also know if it is urgent that God wants to tell me something, He will break through all obstacles, even through my confusion that might result from hearing too many other voices at the same time.

Romans 1:16-32 is a very good example of how God can, or rather, should be perceived by every human being. Thanks so much for sharing your insights with us on here, my sister! 🙂

People who put God in a box usually have Bible verses to back it up—but they reject Christ. When Jesus Christ walked the earth, the Jewish Pharisees absolutely put God in their box (pride, idolatry), that is why they killed Jesus.

Scripture is powerful and penetrating, but more so is the power of the Holy Ghost. I would rather have Christ and reject Scripture than have Scripture and reject Christ (the anointing).

In the first chapter of John, the writer speaks of the Word of God. The writer is talking about Jesus Christ, not the Bible. Too many people put their trust in Bible verses (head knowledge): I call this Bible Verse Idolatry. The Word (Jesus) can speak directly to our spirit.

Thank you very much for sharing your precious thoughts on the Word of God/the word of God (the Bible) on here, Tim. I fully agree with you! 🙂

Following the link you offered above, I read this and found it quite striking.

“Most if asked would say that Christ rules, not scripture. However, for Christ to rule you, you must go to Him by patiently and persistently sitting in humble silence to wait on Him as you listen for His words spoken to you and watch for His revelations…”

That is the most difficult part for me, Tim, waiting on Him and listen until He really speaks. There are so many voices we could listen to, but only ONE of them comes from Him. Waiting patiently is certainly nothing that my flesh ever liked. 😛

I recall having written a few articles on that very issue about the Bible vs. Christ and I decided to just copy and paste an excerpt from one of them so that you know where I am coming from.

“I believe it is possible to know the Bible without knowing Him, but never vice versa, i.e., knowing Christ without an increasing understanding of Scripture. Knowing Christ means that we have been given God’s inner life in the Spirit (Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26) that cannot be seen from the outside, for it is hidden inside of our own spirit. It is an entirely new life, a Christ-centered, prayer-based and Spirit-driven life.”

Yes, Susanne, you are absolutely right! Today we have many churchmen who selectively use the Bible to form their denominational and sectarian policies. The Bible might be inspired, but their use of it is not! But here is the rub, it is no different today than it was with the Jewish leaders 2000 years ago of whom Jesus said,

“You examine the Scriptures carefully because you suppose that in them you have eternal life. Yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40 ISV).

The Bible testifies of Jesus, but a head knowledge of Him is not enough. We must fully come to Him and be found IN His LIFE or all our Bible knowledge will end up being used by the flesh and the devil to fight against Him! This is exactly what these same Jewish leaders did.

“But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham would not have done that. You are doing your father’s works… Why don’t you understand my language? It’s because you can’t listen to my words. You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood by the truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:40-44 ISV)

The letter of the Bible still kills, but the Spirit of Christ gives life. This Life must be in us first before we can see the light of the scriptures. “In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity.” (John 1:4 ISV)

Tim, you wrote, “Scripture is powerful and penetrating, but more so is the power of the Holy Ghost. I would rather have Christ and reject Scripture than have Scripture and reject Christ (the anointing).” I agree, my brother. As for your statement, “scripture is powerful and penetrating…” Many Christians read this and they immediately think of this passage, “For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 KJ2000).

This is about the Bible, right? But let us look at the rest of this passage, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in HIS sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of HIM with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” (Hebrews 4:13-14 KJ2000 – emphasis added). It is clear here that the WORD of God is Jesus Christ, just as it is in John chapter one. JESUS alone is LIVING, and POWERFUL, and His Spirit that pierces and penetrates and divides our soul from our spirit and is the discerner of our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. The Bible alone cannot do this, but Jesus’ Spirit alone can! I thank God for the Bible and refer to it all the time, but it can NOT take the place of the Light of HIS Life in us.

Romans 10:17 is about a process; beginning with preachers being sent to preach the gospel (the word). People who hear the word being preached believed, and believing, they call upon the name of the Lord and are saved.

I totally agree, that HEARING & SEEING the message of the gospel are the same. In today’s time, the gospel comes to us either through audio (through someone speaking) or reading resources (the printed bible). Therefore, it is either with our ears to hear or with our eyes to read, the gospel message that we come TO KNOW CHRIST. What is important is that Christ is revealed either through our ears or eyes, we believe in our HEARTS (FAITH).

The ears and eyes are just the means for receiving the gospel, but the heart is the most important because it is through the heart that we believe (have faith). Remember, Ephesians 2:8 says “for by grace that we are saved through FAITH…” There are numerous verses in the bible that God’s message comes to us either through our ears or through our eyes: 1 Corinthians 2:9; Jeremiah 5:21; Mark 4:12; Mark 8:18; Matthew 13:14-15; Acts 28:26-27; Romans 11:8; Ezekiel 12:2; John 12:40; Deuteronomy 29:4. And there is one verse that only speaks about the eyes and heart but does not mention about the ears: Psalm 69:23 “they knew not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.”

That was a great comment by you, Ram. Thank you very much for sharing it on here. Your biblical confirmation really fits! ⭐

I was just wondering, still, what might happen to a person who is both deaf and blind and thus can neither listen nor read (let’s say, not even the Braille alphabet) when God decides to save them, though? 🙄 Maybe, there is a biblical answer elsewhere that only refers to listening with the heart. Alas, I have not found it as yet.

I love this exchange you two have had here. I am so glad that you included the heart and not only our physical senses in what is needed for us to come into saving faith and to continue to grow in Christ. So many Evangelicals only go as far as the mechanics of what salvation is, i.e., preaching the gospel and handing out tracks and getting a person to “say a sinner’s prayer” or go down to an altar call. BUT there must be a breakthrough into our hearts if there is to be a change in the Spirit. Paul wrote,

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may GIVE YOU A SPIRIT OF WISDOM and of REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, HAVING THE EYES OF YOUR HEARTS ENLIGHTENED, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (Ephesians 1:17-19 RSVA)

Like Jesus said, salvation is being born of the Spirit. That which is born of the flesh is only flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Flesh and blood can not receive the kingdom of God. All too many people have gone through the motions of “getting saved” in a church service out of guilt or to please a loved one without God calling them by His Spirit and as a result they are spiritual still births. No man can come to Christ unless the Father draws him. He must give us spiritual eyes and ears before our hearts can fully receive His revelation both for salvation and for further enlightenment into the depths of Christ.

So, Susanne, to answer your question, I believe that God can sovereignly move on the heart of a person with the Spirit of the revelation of who Christ is even if they are deaf and blind, but a man or woman with all their faculties can remain blind and deaf to the things of God no matter how much mental understanding they have of the gospel. God is the deciding factor for all things of the Spirit and must do a miracle in us. All we can do is receive and agree with His will for us.

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2 RSVA)

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